What is Mamba candy made of?

Mamba candy is a popular soft, chewy candy that comes in a variety of fruit flavors. But what exactly goes into making this tasty treat? In this 5000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the ingredients, manufacturing process, and nutritional information behind Mamba candy.

Mamba Candy History

Mamba was first created in Germany in the 1950s by August Storck KG, a German candy company. The original Mamba candy was fruit-flavored and soft, much like today’s version. Some of the earliest Mamba flavors were lemon, orange, raspberry, and strawberry.

Mamba proved popular in Europe and eventually made its way to the United States in the 1960s. In the US, Mamba was produced and sold by Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company. Over the years new flavors were introduced, such as grape, strawberry-lemon, and peach. The candy also became known for its bright, eye-catching packaging and marketing as a “fresh fruit” candy.

Today, Mamba is available worldwide and continues to be made by Storck in Germany and by Farley’s & Sathers in the US. It’s a classic soft candy enjoyed for its fresh fruit flavors and chewy texture.

Mamba Candy Ingredients

The exact ingredients used to make Mamba candy are proprietary secrets held by Storck and Farley’s & Sathers. However, by examining the ingredient lists printed on Mamba candy packaging, we can get a good idea of what goes into the candy.

The primary ingredients in Mamba candy are:

– Sugar – This includes both white and brown sugars. Sugar gives Mamba its sweetness and is likely the main ingredient.

– Corn syrup – A sweet thickener made from corn that helps give Mamba its soft, chewy texture.

– Fruit juices from concentrate – Small amounts of fruit juices from oranges, lemons, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, and peaches flavor the candy.

– Citric acid – Used to provide tartness and enhance fruit flavors.

– Artificial colors – Provides the bright, vibrant colors of Mamba candies. Colors will vary depending on fruit flavor.

– Artificial flavors – Boosts and enhances the fruit flavors.

– Carnauba wax – Wax derived from palm leaves that gives Mamba its glossy appearance.

– Cornstarch – Used to dust the exterior of the candies to keep them from sticking together.

So while not made from 100% real fruit, Mamba contains just enough fruit juice concentrates to give each piece that fruity, juicy flavor. The rest of the ingredients provide the signature chewy texture and appearance of the candy.

How Mamba Candy is Manufactured

Mamba candies go through a complex multi-step manufacturing process before reaching the shiny, chewy form you find in stores. Here are the basics steps involved:

– Blending – The ingredients, including sugars, corn syrup, fruit juices, citric acid, colors, and flavors are precisely measured out and thoroughly blended in large industrial mixing machines. Blending ensures consistent flavor and texture throughout the batch.

– Cooking – The mixture is cooked and heated to around 270°F. Heating causes the ingredients to meld together into a thick, viscous liquid with the right chewy texture.

– Flavoring – After cooking, more artificial flavors and food coloring are added to the hot liquid candy while it cools. As it thickens, fruit flavors become incorporated throughout.

– Rolling – The candy mass gets kneaded and stretched out until it forms a long rope. The rope feeds into rollers that press it into a thin layered sheet.

– Cutting – The sheet of candy travels under sharp rotary blades that slice it into small rectangular pieces, each about the size of a Mamba candy.

– Cooling and Conditioning – The soft pieces of candy are allowed to fully cool and settle,which takes approximately 48 hours. This helps them firm up while staying chewy.

– Waxing – After cooling, the candies move under nozzles that spray on a fine mist of carnauba wax. This wax coating gives Mamba candies their glossy sheen.

– Packaging – Finally, the wrapped candies are packaged into their bright, colorful bags and distributed to stores.

As you can see, making Mamba is a complex process that relies on advanced candy manufacturing technology and expertise. But it delivers the unique chewy, fruity candy that fans love!

Nutrition Facts of Mamba Candy

Like most candies, Mamba is not a significant source of nutrients. It is primarily composed of sugars and carbohydrates. However, here is the nutrition information per 1 piece (4g) of Mamba candy:

Nutrition Fact Amount
Calories 16
Total Fat 0 g
Sodium 0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 4 g
Sugars 3 g
Protein 0 g

As you can see, a single Mamba piece contains 16 calories, all from carbohydrates and sugar. There is minimal fat, sodium, or protein.

If you eat an entire 1.8 ounce bag of Mamba candy, you would consume approximately:

– Calories: 250
– Total Carbs: 60g
– Sugars: 45g

So while delicious, Mamba candy provides empty calories without much nutritional value. The sugars and carbs make it best enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat.

Mamba Candy Flavors

One of the most fun parts of eating Mamba is getting to enjoy the different fruit flavors. Here is a run down of the flavors:

Strawberry

Mamba’s juicy pink strawberry flavored pieces taste like sweet, tart berries. This is one of the original Mamba flavors and remains popular today.

Orange

Bright orange and bursting with citrus flavor, the orange Mamba candies deliver fresh, zesty taste. It’s like eating a sweet gummy orange slice.

Raspberry

With a deep pinkish red color, the raspberry Mambas offer a berry flavor that’s sweet and slightly tart. It mimics the taste of fresh raspberries.

Lemon

Yellow and filled with tang, these lemony Mambas are sweet and sour like lemon candy. Their pucker power balances the other flavors.

Grape

Purple grape Mambas give you juicy concord grape flavor in chewy candy form. They taste like candy grapes without the weird texture.

Peach

Newer to the lineup, peach Mambas deliver a sweet candied peach taste. Their orangey color and flavor is reminiscent of peaches.

Pineapple

Pineapple Mambas capture the tropical essence of ripe pineapple. These yellow candies are sweet with just a hint of tangy citrus.

Strawberry Lemon

This special combo flavor blends rich strawberry with zesty lemon for a unique candy experience. A perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Those are the current Mamba candy flavors you’ll find in stores today. Part of the fun is getting a pack with an assortment and comparing all the different fruity flavors side by side.

Buying and Storing Mamba Candy

Mamba candy can be found in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, discount retailers, and online candy retailers in the United States, Germany, and elsewhere around the world.

In the US, Mamba is available in a few different pack sizes:

– Single size (0.3 oz)
– Fun size pouches (1.8 oz)
– Share size stand up bags (4.5 oz)
– Theater boxes (6.6 oz)

Mamba is often sold in bags containing a mix of flavors, but you can sometimes find single flavor packs as well.

Once opened, Mamba can be stored in a pantry or cupboard in a cool dry place. Like most candies, Mamba can last for around 9 to 12 months past its printed best by date before quality starts to decline.

Unopened Mamba bags have a shelf life of around 1 to 2 years when stored properly. For the longest lasting freshness, store Mamba sealed in its original bag in a climate controlled environment between 60 and 75°F.

Avoid freezing Mamba candy or exposing it to direct sunlight or high humidity, which can cause faster deterioration. With proper storage, the fruit flavors really hold up nicely over time.

Mamba Candy Copycats

Given Mamba’s popularity, several candy companies have created their own versions of chewy, fruit-flavored soft candy to compete. Here are some of the main Mamba copycats and alternatives:

– Starburst – Made by Mars, Starburst has similar square shaped chewy candies in fruit flavors. Starburst may be a little firmer in texture than Mamba.

– Skittles – This chewy, fruit candy made by Mars has more rounded edges compared to Mamba, but shares similarities.

– Fruit by the Foot – Made by General Mills, this strip of chewy, stretchy fruit snack comes in colors and flavors like Mamba.

– Albanese Candy – Their gummy candies and chews offer extensive fruit flavors beyond just the basics. They make a twister candy similar looking to Mamba.

– Trolli Octopus – These chewy octopus shaped candies mimic Mamba’s texture and fruit flavors. Made by Ferrara Candy.

– Haribo Gold Bears – The gummi bear candies have a wider range of flavors but the texture is close to Mamba.

While none are exactly the same, these candies can satisfy a craving for chewy, fruity candy when Mamba isn’t available. But the classic Mamba still reigns supreme for many fans.

Conclusion

Mamba is an iconic soft chewy candy that’s been loved for decades thanks to its fresh fruit flavors and signature texture. Made from a blend of sugars, corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, each Mamba piece delivers intense fruit taste that makes your mouth water.

The manufacturing process ensures each batch of Mambas is chewy, glossy, and bursting with flavor. While not rich in nutrients, Mamba remains a hugely popular candy worldwide thanks to its tangy taste and enjoyable chewiness. Fans just can’t resist treats like juicy strawberry, zesty lemon, and tropical pineapple Mambas!

Leave a Comment